Can you book passage on a freighter

Whether you love the sea, are conscious of your carbon footprint, dont like flying or simply prefer to sail in a relaxed atmosphere, away from the crowds, then travelling by cargo ship is the right choice for you. Just remember to book your passage in advance because you can t just show up at a port to jump on a ship on a whim. Life aboard a great lakes freighter detroit free press. A trip on a freighter is usually an end in and of itself. Cruise the world on freighters, from coastal and island specialties to one way. Check that your travel insurance covers freighter travel. How to travel by cargo ship around the world transitions abroad. Only one company, polish ocean lines, maintains an office in the united states for booking passengers. You can locate an agent or shipping company that books freighter voyages, learn about the cost of travel, and view pictures of over 2,000 ships, from the engine room to the bridge.

Yes, booking passage on a cargo freighter is completely different from a cruise ship. And yes, that means traveling with cargo, and that cargo might be anything from cars to clocks. You absolutely cannot work aboard a cargo ship in exchange for passage. Freighters and the great lakes passage outside our bubble. With so many ways to travel, freighter cruises are one of the most exciting. Booking a cargo freighter ship cruise is not quite as simple as booking a normal cruise. Most shipping companies s will not even consider a booking request less than 14 days before your planned departure date experienced travelers. Taking pets many people who are taking a freighter voyage as part of a long term stay abroad, or a permanent relocation, ask about the possibility of taking their pet with them. A cruise aboard a lakes freighter is only available to guests which includes the shipping companys customers and some family members. You can spend the day on deck in a lounge chair, reading your favorite book with no. We have teamed up with hamish jamieson at freightertravel nz, based in napier, new zealand, who have a register of almost every passenger carrying cargo ship in the world and provide a worldwide booking service for freighter ship cruises. There are several travel agents that specialize in booking freighter travel. We have passengers from all walks of life, ranging from single travellers to families.

There are cruise ships that get around the act by taking on passengers in ensenada, mexico or vancouver, canada. Fortunately, since you ll have to book your trip through a travel agent, they can help you deal with all of these specifics and more based on your port of call. Another idea for adventurous souls is to take a cargo ship. Below you will find a list of our very best offers all of which are brought to you exclusively by cargo ship voyages. Traveling by freighter is a great way to see the sights of alaska without the hurry and congestion of commercial cruises. Travel by freighter to europe, mediterranean, south pacific. Can i use the freighter as a method of transportation to get to my real vacation destination. Freight tickets are usually cheaper than cruise ship prices, and availability is limited to fewer fellow travelers, usually around 10 people. Many ships only have 2 to 4 cabins so you will usually need to book up to 6 months in advance to get the trip that you want in the month that you want to depart in. If you have the wanderlust and want to enjoy travel the old fashioned way this could be just what you are looking for. When you get to within 30days of departure you can learn about scheduled changes on the grimaldi website by going to the main freighter cruiser page and click on check my booking where you put in the date and booking number. How to travel by ship from america to europe usa today. Mcguffick, 72, took his maiden voyage on a freighter in 1998 and hasnt.

Todays passenger freighters are mostly containerships, french and german, with 2025 international officers and crew on board, and 2 to 6 passengers max. On special occasions you can not only travel in the normal passenger seats but also inside the cargo hold. Thank you so much and your family for choosing to run your freighter cruise agency. There is no information or links relating to traditional cruises. Crossing the ocean on a cargo ship the art of manliness. A word of advice to the cargo ship traveler, be flexible. You can do segments, one way or round trips depending on the journey. Passenger freighters voyage list maris freighter cruises. With no language except english you can travel the world without too much. Slowtravel specialist in freighter travel worldwide. A typical freighter only can accommodate about 20 passengersand many take even fewer.

For hamish jamieson, the owner of freighter travel nz and one of. For example you can spend hours on the bridge and ask one of the friendly officers to explain you some of the technical equipment, or asking for advises considering your next excursion going ashore. The average length of a freighter voyage is 40 to 50 days, though there are some shorter trips available last a couple of weeks. Heres how you can travel by cargo ship matador network. Freighter travel is a less crowded alternative for crossing a sea or ocean, not using airplanes or commercial cruise ships or ferries. Cargo ship cruises how to book passage on a freighter. Freighter travel freighter cruises is the most economical way for student travelers to sail the high seas though most definitely not the cheapest way to cross the oceans, but if you just won big bucks on a game show, you might consider a luxury ocean liner for the sheer comfort factor. Many ships only have 2 to 4 cabins so you will usually need to book up to 6 months in advance to get the trip that. Cargo ships can carry a maximum of 12 passengers although most vessels only have accommodation for 4 to 6 passengers. Schedules can, and very often do change and when that happens, you will need to hop on and off more than one ship during the trip. Great lakes ships are not certified to carry passengers for hire, so it is impossible to buy a ticket. Not all agents book the same voyages, so shop around when booking and picking a freighter that is right for you.

On top of just watching the large freighters go by, which can get addicting by the way as you find yourself running outside every time you hear a horn, you can go to the famous soo locks and watch them transcend from lake huron to lake superior and vice versa via the st. You will have to book through an agent that specializes in freighter cruises or. A wonderful way to see, and enjoy the peace of the watery parts of, our world. The experience was in complete contrast to our usual hurried airplane trips. For those who do not wish to book directly with shipping companies, maris freighter and specialty cruises and maris freighter club intl offers a variety of voyages to many destinations.

Always make sure you can change your flight arrangements without a major penalty if you need to fly to and from the port at which you join and leave the ship. Freighter travel plan and explore your cruise around the world. I can t stress this strongly enough if you want to travel by freighter, you really should book well in advance shipping lines and freighter agents can t process last minute bookings. For one reason or another their plans change and they find they cannot make the trip when the time comes for them to sail. But the retired australian farmer says theres no better way to see the world than from a budget berth on a cargo ship.

Segmented trips are possible with a stopover in port for as long as you want. Unfortunately due to covid19, no freighter ships are taking passengers at this time and we cannot book any journeys for you. Traveling on a cargo ship is very much possible, and while it isnt considered a luxury cruise, it is still a great way to travel even at a cost of. But if a quiet, slower paced, more intimate way of travel and the opportunity to learn and experience different cultures around the world. Alternatively you could fly to asia or europe and join ships there. Cargo passenger lines gets right down to the nittygritty of freighter cruising and if you head to its destinations page you can. Since 1971, when my three young children and i travelled up the west coast of africa, i have had the pleasure of occasional freighter voyage.

Those who book far in advance, say a year or more, hardly ever end up going. West coast to australianew zealand and return takes about 46 days. One of the most unique ways to travel to alaska is by freighter, or cargo ship. You may join one of the sociable barbecue parties on the cargo ship with the. Take cargo ships to remote pacific islands freighter travel. Freighter travel nz welcome you to the exciting world of freighter voyagingseeing the world from a bulk cargo or container vessel with our international voyages from new zealand freighter travel is here to advise you on all aspects of freighter voyages from new zealand and will assist you in planning a trip to remember. Cabins are limited and the most popular routes can be sold out months ahead of time.

For example in the covid19 epidemic americans went home in a kalitta b747 freighter like this. Cargo ship travel things you should know freighter expeditions. Feel free to give our friendly team a call should you not be able to find what you are looking for. Travelling by cargo ship is a fascinating way to see the world. The free press jim schaefer and eric seals to chronicle crew, food on ship and beauty of the lakes. If you are looking for even shorter passages there are trips offered in europe. Bear in mind that fellow cruise ship passengers are likely to be older and the cruise ship atmosphere far. Most freighter ships follow welldefined shipping routes and make stops at the large port cities long beach, oakland, singapore, hong kong, kaohsiung, etc. By exploring the great lakes on a ship, you are sure to catch a new perspective on the region and on travel in general. A trip from marseille to cape town could take up to 25 days.

Marys river the soo locks are considered one of the great wonders of the world and is still the largest waterway. Crossing the atlantic by cargo freighter how to and. You can spend the day on deck in a lounge chair, reading your favorite book with no disturbances. The popular oldschool romantic notion of showing up penniless at a dock with a rucksack and then earning your passage by swabbing the decks will have to remain in robert louis stevenson novels. Becoming a crew member on a modern cargo ship requires years of study and training. You can ride a freighter from anywhere to anywhere.

Youll need to keep in mind the few tips below though most importantly book early. Maris freighter cruise and travel club around the world cargo. There are no planned activities, but the tradeoff is a high degree of privacy. Most travel agents do not book freighter voyages, so you will have to book through an agent that specializes in freighter cruises or directly through the ships agentmanager. Traveling on a freighter requires advanced booking and it is generally more expensive than flying. Freighter travel costs and questions gonomad travel. Choose to travel or cruise on containerships, general cargo ships, and a variety of small, general purpose ships. For animal lovers, this would certainly be a dream solution to their relocation problems, but sadly i believe it is now impossible. Even if you are not planning to take a freighter voyage, you may find the captains page interesting. Tips for booking passage on a freighter ship travel guide. You might want to look into whether or not you can find freighter travel from either of those two cities. A shorter voyage may be best for those taking their first trip, and you can get more adventurous as you continue to seek out this experience. An around the world voyage lasts generally 80 to 100 days or more. Agents will require a deposit when you book usually around 25%, with the balance payable a few weeks prior to departure.

You will have to book through an agent that specializes in this type of travel, such as one of the agents listed on. If you are looking for even shorter passages there are trips offered in europe crossing the north sea. This may have been possible decades ago, but not anymore. You can work at sea in a freighter job, working your way to almost anywhere in the world, without money, short hair, applications, experience or references all you need is a passport and a. But if a quiet, slower paced, more intimate way of travel and the opportunity to learn and experience different cultures around the world sounds interesting to you. All you need to know about booking a cargo ship cruise. Buy travelers health insurance covering at least the duration of your time aboard ship. Select alluring itineraries transatlantic, transpacific, to australia and south america, aroundtheworld etc visit ports in the south pacific, indian ocean, africa, the far east, north and south america. Many of us prefer that experience to a highly orchestrated shipboard experience. Myssura offers a surprising observation on the fate of potential freighter travelers. Slowtravel specialist in freighter travel worldwide langsamreisen.